Small glass. Started with plenty of lemon, more apple and pear coming through from middle forward. Very bright throughout with good weight and length, better textures. Good now.
Tasted double blind. Seemed like Old World Chardonnay, even if not quite Burgundy. Rich and nearly exotic fruit profile but also bright from middle through finish, with good+ length. Good now.
Tasted double blind. Clearly New World with rich, tropical character and unctuous textures. Slightly past its peak. 88 points today, probably better in 2014 or 2015.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Clearly Bordeaux blend, but I thought this a well done New World version with its ripe, chocolately character. But I appreciated the palate's brightness, enjoying it far more than the riper nose. Very good now, this was quite a good value wine.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour
Tasted double blind, I thought it a good enough Southern Rhone with its black cherry and plum that was ripe, but just short of roasted, while retaining balance. Very enjoyable, particularly for its price.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. Clearly Old World, with bright structure balancing out clear ripeness and modern styling. Lots of ripe black cherry with olive tapenade and overall good weight and harmony. Good now, I doubt there is much upside from here.
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Tasted double blind. Perplexed us all, this showed lots of black fruit and good+ intensity, but none of the ultra ripeness or sweet spice we expect from Amarone. Certainly very enjoyable, but atypical.
Tasted double blind. This had been decanted for three hours. Both fresh and dried red cherry aromas and flavors. Big start and finish, somewhat backward in the middle for now. I enjoyed this, but was slightly disappointed when it was unveiled expected more, yet hopeful for its future.
Tasted double blind. Clearly Bordeaux with ripe black currant and cassis, supported with dark chocolate and espresso. Seemed so Merlot that I thought this Right Bank. Rich and effusive start, similarly enticing finish, just somewhat tannic in the middle right now. Better 2030-.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Intensely floral start with ripe orchard fruit aromas and a spice note that is showing a bit of protruding oak that needs time to integrate. Much leaner flavors with green apple, lemon and some lemon curd on finish. Certainly very good concentration. I like this overall but don’t find it particularly harmonious (yet) between nose and palate. Others liked this more.
Tasted double blind. Lush start with candied Cabernet character, but I found it fairly hollow in the middle. Good enough finish. Certainly enjoyable, but I was just partly surprised when this was unveiled because I have rarely found Opus One to be worth close to its price.
Tasted double blind. Black cherry and plum with lots of grace and balance. Good weight and length with very elegant, nearly silky tannins. At its peak. Group was evenly divided between New World vs Bordeaux, and I was on the wrong side.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. I haven't had this wine since shortly after release, and think this must have been an off bottle. It was enjoyable (87 points?) but overall hard with a drying finish.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Tasted double blind. Very clearly Burgundy, knowing it was 2010, I immediately thought this a top Gevrey 1er. Black fruit with roasted meat and savory spice, yet bright and texturally elegant. I was so surprised to see the wine once unveiled, but was told Chevillon 2010s have been consistently this great.
I served this double blind to the tasting group alongside Jacques Prieur Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 2009 (meant that to be 2010 as well). Almost half the group thought this was Burgundy, which didn't surprise me given its bright red cherry and berry character and good energy throughout. At a great place now. My first of 6 bottles bought on release.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Served double blind to the tasting group alongside Broadley 2010 Claudia's Choice, although I intended to bring the 2010 vintage for both. Oops. Great nose showed ripe black and red cherry, both sweet and savory spice and perfumed notes. Similar flavors, just seemingly slightly less complex and bright. Very good now, still some possible upside.
Tasted double blind. So clearly ripe vintage Bordeaux, but I got lost amidst a too complicated explication and unveiling. Meaty and spicy with dark roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate, this was powerful and lush. Comes across as modern, nut without losing its sense of place. Very good now, clearly with upside.
Tasted double blind. Black cherry with roasted meat, black pepper, and impeccable structure, I immediately thought this Hermitage. So close. Ken tried to fool the group by asking if this is La Mouline, La Turque or La Landonne, but I knew this was not Guigal (plus could tell it was 100% Syrah), so ID'ed the lieu-dit and then producer correctly. Great already now, also with upside.
Tasted double blind. Black fruit with sweet spice, I thought this meaty for a Margaux. Good start and finish, restrained in the middle. Better 2025-, or probably even better 2030-.
Tasted double blind. Easily identifiable as a great New World Rhone varietal, this wine just keeps getting better each time I have it. Black plum and cherry with both sweet and savory spice. This is putting on more weight with time in bottle, while also finding greater harmony.
2010 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small glass. Started with plenty of lemon, more apple and pear coming through from middle forward. Very bright throughout with good weight and length, better textures. Good now.
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2010 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard Flawed
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Very dark color for its age with apple cider vinegar notes emerging.
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2010 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Umbria Cervaro della Sala 90 Points
Italy, Umbria
Tasted double blind. Seemed like Old World Chardonnay, even if not quite Burgundy. Rich and nearly exotic fruit profile but also bright from middle through finish, with good+ length. Good now.
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2010 Azienda Agricola Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Flawed
Italy, Abruzzi, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo
Slightly corked.
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2010 Alban Vineyards Roussanne Estate 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
Tasted double blind. Clearly New World with rich, tropical character and unctuous textures. Slightly past its peak. 88 points today, probably better in 2014 or 2015.
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2010 Château Fleur Cardinale 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Clearly Bordeaux blend, but I thought this a well done New World version with its ripe, chocolately character. But I appreciated the palate's brightness, enjoying it far more than the riper nose. Very good now, this was quite a good value wine.
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2010 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 89 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour
Tasted double blind, I thought it a good enough Southern Rhone with its black cherry and plum that was ripe, but just short of roasted, while retaining balance. Very enjoyable, particularly for its price.
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2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 90 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. Clearly Old World, with bright structure balancing out clear ripeness and modern styling. Lots of ripe black cherry with olive tapenade and overall good weight and harmony. Good now, I doubt there is much upside from here.
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2010 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Tasted double blind. Perplexed us all, this showed lots of black fruit and good+ intensity, but none of the ultra ripeness or sweet spice we expect from Amarone. Certainly very enjoyable, but atypical.
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2010 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Rosso di Montalcino 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Tasted double blind. This had been decanted for three hours. Both fresh and dried red cherry aromas and flavors. Big start and finish, somewhat backward in the middle for now. I enjoyed this, but was slightly disappointed when it was unveiled expected more, yet hopeful for its future.
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2010 Château Léoville Poyferré 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasted double blind. Clearly Bordeaux with ripe black currant and cassis, supported with dark chocolate and espresso. Seemed so Merlot that I thought this Right Bank. Rich and effusive start, similarly enticing finish, just somewhat tannic in the middle right now. Better 2030-.
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2016 Domaine Darviot-Perrin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Blanchots Dessus 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Intensely floral start with ripe orchard fruit aromas and a spice note that is showing a bit of protruding oak that needs time to integrate. Much leaner flavors with green apple, lemon and some lemon curd on finish. Certainly very good concentration. I like this overall but don’t find it particularly harmonious (yet) between nose and palate. Others liked this more.
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2010 Opus One 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Lush start with candied Cabernet character, but I found it fairly hollow in the middle. Good enough finish. Certainly enjoyable, but I was just partly surprised when this was unveiled because I have rarely found Opus One to be worth close to its price.
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2010 Araujo Estate Altagracia 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Black cherry and plum with lots of grace and balance. Good weight and length with very elegant, nearly silky tannins. At its peak. Group was evenly divided between New World vs Bordeaux, and I was on the wrong side.
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2010 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. I haven't had this wine since shortly after release, and think this must have been an off bottle. It was enjoyable (87 points?) but overall hard with a drying finish.
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2010 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Tasted double blind. Very clearly Burgundy, knowing it was 2010, I immediately thought this a top Gevrey 1er. Black fruit with roasted meat and savory spice, yet bright and texturally elegant. I was so surprised to see the wine once unveiled, but was told Chevillon 2010s have been consistently this great.
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2010 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Claudia's Choice 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
I served this double blind to the tasting group alongside Jacques Prieur Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 2009 (meant that to be 2010 as well). Almost half the group thought this was Burgundy, which didn't surprise me given its bright red cherry and berry character and good energy throughout. At a great place now. My first of 6 bottles bought on release.
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2009 Domaine Jacques Prieur Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Served double blind to the tasting group alongside Broadley 2010 Claudia's Choice, although I intended to bring the 2010 vintage for both. Oops. Great nose showed ripe black and red cherry, both sweet and savory spice and perfumed notes. Similar flavors, just seemingly slightly less complex and bright. Very good now, still some possible upside.
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2000 Château La Gomerie 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion
Tasted double blind. So clearly ripe vintage Bordeaux, but I got lost amidst a too complicated explication and unveiling. Meaty and spicy with dark roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate, this was powerful and lush. Comes across as modern, nut without losing its sense of place. Very good now, clearly with upside.
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2010 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Flawed
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Sadly stewed or otherwise heat damaged.
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2010 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Tasted double blind. Black cherry with roasted meat, black pepper, and impeccable structure, I immediately thought this Hermitage. So close. Ken tried to fool the group by asking if this is La Mouline, La Turque or La Landonne, but I knew this was not Guigal (plus could tell it was 100% Syrah), so ID'ed the lieu-dit and then producer correctly. Great already now, also with upside.
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2010 Château Brane-Cantenac 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasted double blind. Black fruit with sweet spice, I thought this meaty for a Margaux. Good start and finish, restrained in the middle. Better 2025-, or probably even better 2030-.
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2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Five Shooter 94 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
Tasted double blind. Easily identifiable as a great New World Rhone varietal, this wine just keeps getting better each time I have it. Black plum and cherry with both sweet and savory spice. This is putting on more weight with time in bottle, while also finding greater harmony.
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